Process for in situ production of microcapillary dispensing system for flexible pouch

Abstract

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a process for producing a flexible pouch is provided. The process includes placing a capillary precursor element (CPE) between two opposing flexible films. The flexible films define a common peripheral edge. The CPE comprises an array of pins sandwiched between two opposing polymeric strips. The process includes positioning a first side of the CPE at a first side of the common peripheral edge and positioning a second side of the CPE at a second side of the common peripheral edge. The process includes first sealing, at a first seal condition, (i) the opposing polymeric strips to each other to form a matrix, and (ii) sealing the matrix to the two opposing flexible films. The process includes removing the array of pins from the matrix to form an in situ microcapillary strip.

We claim: 
     
       1. A process for producing a flexible pouch comprising:
 placing a capillary precursor element (CPE) between two opposing flexible films, the flexible films defining a common peripheral edge, the CPE comprising an array of pins sandwiched between two opposing polymeric strips; 
 positioning a first side of the CPE at a first side of the common peripheral edge and positioning a second side of the CPE at a second side of the common peripheral edge; 
 first sealing, at a first seal condition, (i) the opposing polymeric strips to each other to form a matrix, and (ii) sealing the matrix to the two opposing flexible films; and 
 removing the array of pins from the matrix to form an in situ microcapillary strip. 
 
     
     
       2. The process of  claim 1  comprising second sealing, at a second seal condition, a peripheral seal along at least a portion of the common peripheral edge, the peripheral seal comprising a sealed microcapillary segment. 
     
     
       3. The process of  claim 2  comprising forming, with the second sealing, a flexible pouch having a storage compartment. 
     
     
       4. The process of  claim 3  wherein the flexible pouch comprises a fill inlet at an unsealed portion of the common peripheral edge, the process comprising filling, through the fill inlet, the storage compartment with a liquid. 
     
     
       5. The process of  claim 4  comprising third sealing the fill inlet and forming a closed and filled flexible pouch. 
     
     
       6. The process of  claim 4  comprising removing a portion of the sealed microcapillary segment;
 exposing outer edges of channels present in the in situ microcapillary strip; 
 squeezing the storage compartment; and 
 dispensing, through the channels the liquid from the flexible pouch. 
 
     
     
       7. The process of  claim 6  wherein the removing comprises cutting the portion of the sealed microcapillary segment from the flexible pouch. 
     
     
       8. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the common peripheral edge defines a 4-sided polygon, the process comprising first positioning the first side of the CPE at a first side of the 4-sided polygon; and
 second positioning the second side of the CPE at an intersecting side of the 4-sided polygon. 
 
     
     
       9. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the common peripheral edge defines a 4-sided polygon, the process comprising first positioning the first side of the CPE at a first side of the 4-sided polygon; and
 second positioning the second side of the CPE at a parallel side of the 4-sided polygon. 
 
     
     
       10. A process for producing a flexible pouch comprising:
 placing a capillary precursor element (CPE) at an edge offset distance between two opposing flexible films, the flexible films defining a common peripheral edge, the CPE comprising an array of pins sandwiched between two opposing polymeric strips; 
 positioning a first side of the CPE at a first side of the common peripheral edge and positioning a second side of the CPE at a second side of the common peripheral edge; 
 first sealing, at a first seal condition, (i) the opposing polymeric strips to each other to form a matrix, and (ii) sealing the matrix to the two opposing flexible films; and 
 removing the array of pins from the matrix to form an in situ microcapillary strip. 
 
     
     
       11. The process of  10  comprising second sealing, at a second seal condition, a peripheral seal along at least a portion of the common peripheral edge, the peripheral seal comprising a sealed microcapillary segment. 
     
     
       12. The process of  claim 11  comprising forming, with the second sealing, a flexible pouch having a storage compartment and a pocket. 
     
     
       13. The process of  claim 12  wherein the flexible pouch comprises a fill inlet at an unsealed portion of the common peripheral edge, the process comprising filling, through the fill inlet, the storage compartment with a liquid. 
     
     
       14. The process of  claim 13  comprising third sealing the fill inlet and forming a closed and filled flexible pouch. 
     
     
       15. The process of  claim 13  comprising removing the pocket from the pouch;
 exposing outer edges of channels present in the in situ microcapillary strip; 
 squeezing the storage compartment; and 
 dispensing, through the channels, the liquid from the pouch. 
 
     
     
       16. The process of  claim 15  wherein the removing comprises hand tearing the pocket from the flexible pouch. 
     
     
       17. The process of  claim 10 , wherein the common peripheral edge defines a 4-sided polygon, the process comprising first positioning the first side of the CPE at a first side of the 4-sided polygon; and
 second positioning the second side of the CPE at an intersecting side of the 4-sided polygon. 
 
     
     
       18. The process of  claim 10 , wherein the common peripheral edge defines a 4-sided polygon, the process comprising first positioning the first side of the CPE at a first side of the 4-sided polygon; and
 second positioning the second side of the CPE at a parallel side of the 4-sided polygon.